[ Z7^ ] 



Art. XXXIX. 



Experiments made with a view to afcertain the 

 truth and importance of Br, Hunter's Opinions,, 

 refpeaing the Food of Plants. 



[By Major Velley.] 



'T^HE laudable exertions of the Board of Agri. 

 -■- culture having called forth various expedients 

 both from the praaical and theoretical improvers of 

 land, for the advancement of cultivation in general; 

 I felefted, from among fundry trafts recommended 

 by the Board, the one entitled, « The Outlines of 

 " Agriculture," publiflied by Dr. Hunter, the 

 learned editor of Evelyn's Sylva; in which work 

 the above-mentioned tra^ made its firft appearance 

 in the form of a note. In the feventh page of the 

 pamphlet, the ingenious author thus expreiTes him- 

 felf:— « I lay it down as a fundamental maxim, that 

 ** all plants receive their principal nourifhment from 

 *' oily particles incorporated with water, by means of 

 " an alkaline/alt or abforbent earth." Having fup- 

 ported this hypothefis by various arguments, he 

 notices a preparation as follows: 



One drachm of RuiTia pot-afh diflblved in two 

 ounces of water, then add two fpoonfuls of 

 oil: — p. 19. 



This mixture, the author afferts, « is adapted to 

 ** all the purpofes of vegetation." 



